This comprehensive volume advances a vision of teacher preparation programs focused on core practices supporting ambitious science instruction. The book advocates for collaborative learning and building a community of teacher educators that can collectively share and refine strategies, tools, and practices. A renewed interest in practice-based…

Many believe that children begin to learn science from the moment they start to perceive their environment. They have an innate need to make sense of what happens. Little by little, they form a useful model of the world around them. Before children go to school, they exercise their natural curiosity daily. School can expand a child's understanding…

Argues the pros, cons, and alternatives to animal dissection. Discusses several cases involving student objections and the enactment of a California state law which upholds the right of a student to conscientious objection to dissection involving the harmful or destructive use of animals. (RT)

Presents information on student interest, teaching problems, and learning outcomes regarding the use of cadavers as a teaching tool. Provides a list of Illinois Community Colleges using cadavers and a student questionnaire. (RT)

Presents a practical model for planning and implementing a field trip as an integral part of the science curriculum. Reviews the literature related to the role of field trips in the learning process; describes the model; and provides an example implementing the learning cycle method. (Contains 17 references.) (MDH)

This book offers strategies to help teachers and curriculum coordinators strengthen student interest through meaningful and purposeful learning. The 15 chapters are: (1) "Introduction: Planning a Connected Curriculum"; (2) "Children, School, and Community"; (3) "On Connections"; (4) "Making Connections: An Interdisciplinary Approach"; (5) "Making…

Describes the use of the polygenic trait of total fingerprint ridge count in the classroom as a laboratory investigation. Presents information on background of topic, fingerprint patterns which are classified into three major groups, ridge count, the inheritance model, and activities. Includes an example data sheet format for fingerprints. (RT)

Describes an interdisciplinary approach to science learning in settings usually associated with the humanities or social sciences. Explains the program, its rewards and results, the self and identity seminar, why the program works, and ways of adapting the program. (RT)

This staff development program was directed toward the implementation of a new, hands-on elementary science program. The primary focus was three-fold: (1) to train teachers to implement a new program; (2) to increase the time devoted to science instruction; and (3) to provide teachers with additional science content background. This approach…

Offers suggestions for structuring the writing of paragraphs about data tables and conclusions. States that data tables usually contain: the central or most typical value and the variation or spread within the data. Provides steps for writing a paragraph and an evaluation of effectiveness. (RT)

The Partners in Elementary Science (PIES) program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) is a model Teacher Enhancement project. Its goal was to develop and test a program to help elementary teachers strengthen their science teaching by addressing areas of need, specifically teachers' confidence in teaching inquiry science and helping teachers…

Addresses whether or not science laboratory activities should become a thing of the past. Discusses the impact of the curriculum reforms of the 1960s and 1970s, physical restraints which cause teacher overload, rationale, and objectives of laboratory work. (RT)

This publication provides information and activities for teaching about seashells and process skills including observing, classifying, collecting and interpreting data, inferring, measuring, and predicting. There are 10 lessons. Lessons 1 through 5 deal with an introduction to shells, why animals have shells, observing and classifying shells, the…

This publication provides information and activities for teaching concepts about machines and process skills including observing, classifying, collecting and interpreting data, inferring, measuring, and predicting. There are 15 lessons. Lessons 1 through 5 deal with what machines are, measuring force with a spring scale, working with a lever,…

This publication provides information and activities for identifying objects using the five senses and process skills including observing, classifying, collecting and interpreting data, inferring, and predicting. Lessons 1 through 3 deal with the identification of an unknown substance and the physical properties of powders. Lessons 4 through 6 are…